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Countdown to Oshkosh 2019: Warbirds at AirVenture

Date: July 19, 2019 Category: Blog Tags:
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EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is right around the corner and we’re sharing some of the “can’t-miss” things to see and do at this year’s event. Today, we’re highlighting some of the warbirds you can see on display and in the skies at AirVenture 2019.

North American P-51 Mustang

There’s no mistaking the sound of the P-51’s Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and you’ll have the chance to hear its mighty roar all week at Oshkosh. A number of P-51 Mustangs will be featured in air shows and on display as part of the “Mustangs for Bud” gathering honoring Col. Bud Anderson. Some of the featured P-51 aircraft will include Lope’s Hope 3rd, a P-51C that was restored by AirCorps Aviation in tribute to WWII flying ace Donald Lopez, as well as Nicholas Coutches’s ultra rare P-51H Mustang, one of only two flyable H-model Mustangs.

B-29 Doc

Doc, the highly-recognizable Boeing B-29 Superfortress is returning to Oshkosh for the 50th anniversary of AirVenture. Built in 1944, Doc is one of only two currently flying aircraft of its type. Doc’s extensive restoration started in 2000 and was finalized in 2016. The B-29’s prominent nose art features the character Doc the dwarf from the classic Disney film. Check out Doc on display at Boeing Plaza and don’t forget to snap a photo!

Grumman F6F Hellcat

The Collings Foundation is bringing its newly restored Grumman F6F Hellcat to Oshkosh. The rare aircraft was built for the U.S. Navy as a night fighter and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, where it served in several well-known engagements, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Marianas Turkey Shoot, and attacks on Iwo Jima. Post-war, the airplane served as a training tool for maintenance trainees. After a brief stint in regional air shows, the Hellcat was grounded and displayed in museums, until it was restored to its original flying condition at American Aero Services in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. A special Warbirds in Review on the F6F Hellcat and F6F-1 Bearcat will be held on Wednesday, July 24th at 10:00 am.

D-Day DC-3/C-47s

In June, a fleet of C-47s known as the D-Day Squadron made the trip to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Now, a group of 10 C-47s from the group is returning to the states for a “Victory Tour” at AirVenture 2019. The D-Day Squadron will be sharing the story of the Atlantic crossing at a press conference on Thursday, July 25th at 10:30 am.

Another meticulously restored D-Day veteran will also be at Oshkosh 2019, flying in from Canada. Mikey McBryan completed the restoration of his DC-3 just in time for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day mission. The DC-3 served as a Dakota in the Royal Air Force, as well as Operation Market Garden and other wartime missions. McBryan documented the restoration project in an online video series called Plane Savers.

This list represents just a fraction of the thousands of aircraft you will see at EAA AirVenture! To learn more about the rare and historic warbirds featured at this year’s event, be sure to stop by the daily Warbirds in Review sessions, held twice-daily at Warbird Alley and hosted by the EAA Warbirds of America.

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